NYRA Preview: Belmont Park 10/26

Race 1: $75,000 MSW for 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) on the dirt

Bill Mott has the horse to beat with #1 Forza Di Oro as he comes into this race as the even money favorite. After breaking out of the gate slowly, he managed to close ground and finish a very respectable second after being dead last for more than half of the race. Ajaaweed who went on to win that race, finished fourth earlier this month in the Grade I Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. He doesn’t need to improve much from his debut to find himself in the winners’ circle today.

Ricky’s Picks: 1-6-5-4

Race 2: $62,000 MSW for New-York-bred 2-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles (8.5 furlongs) on the inner turf

#7 Hellbender comes into today’s race, after a remarkable debut here at Belmont on September 28. He broke out of the gate the best and had a commanding lead early on. He couldn’t hold off Captain Bombastic once he got going and put forth his best strides. Captain Bombastic is 2-2 in his career including a win in the Sleepy Hollow Stakes which he won last weekend here at Belmont. John Velazquez gets the call today for Dermot Magner as Hellbender looks to establish himself as one of the front-runners against a field that lacks in experience.

Ricky’s Picks: 7-6-5-2

Credit: NYRA

Race 4: $62,000 MSW for New-York-bred 3-years-old and upward going 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt

This looks like a match made in heaven between #1 Hot Brown and Kendrick Carmouche. Carmouche was on Hot Brown on September 29, as Hot Brown looked like a sure winner out of the gate. He lost the lead in the backstretch and fell back about five lengths. He never quit as he closed that gap to just over a length by the end of the race. Carmouche will send this horse to the lead again with no other contenders in sight.

Ricky’s Picks: 1-3-7-2

Credit: NYRA

Race 6: $75,000 MSW for 3-years-old and upward going 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the inner turf

This will be the third different trainer for #7 Tiberius Mercurius as he makes his debut for the Steve Asmussen barn. This 3-year-old colt is 0-5 in his debut but his last effort back at Saratoga on August 16 was his best to date. He’s a versatile runner as he’s shown the ability to be forwardly placed and the ability to sit behind runners and let the race develop. Manny Franco is one of the most aggressive riders in the country and I would expect to place Tiberius Mercurius toward the front of the group of ten.

Ricky’s Picks: 7-6-10-9